July 25, 2011

Took my son to the zoo this afternoon, he agreed that I could draw a little so I promised to be quick for each drawing. This is all I could manage to do before he started making desperate noises beside me. It was fun and I'm not used to draw animals so I'll try to do it again some time. We had a good time and before leaving the "Jardin des Plantes", where the zoo is, we sat down on a bench. The same bench I sat on last year, and I then drew this seasons pinecones on the same branch as last time. The funny thing was that it was my son who picked the bench among a hundred of them. I couldn't resist the temptation to draw them again...

July 24, 2011

Back from vacation and finished with organizing myself again here at home, I can now post a few drawings from my stay in "Bretagne". We stayed in an old village called Le Minihic by the river Rance, near Saint Malo, Dinart and Saint Lunaire. All the houses where old and made in stone just by the river, where I could take an ice cold swim, every morning or night when the tide was high. A beautiful and peaceful region, which I feel I have adopted for many more vacations in the future. Every time I go to Bretagne, it feels right for me. It might be small things in the atmosphere and other sensations that reminds me of the summers of my childhood in Sweden. What is also perfect is that Bretagne is only four hours away!

A house by the sea in Dinart.

Cliffs and trees by the sea, many small boats are attached with ropes into the cliff.

People use the small boats to get to their bigger boats.

A view from Dinart where you can see Saint Malo and Saint Servan on the other side of the waters.

Another house by the sea, in Saint Lunaire this time (there are many beautiful family houses in the region even though I prefer the old and simple stone houses if I had to choose. And two quick sketches from the Mont Saint Michel, before returning to Paris on our way back home, as usual we run out of time. Next time I'll spend a day drawing there. Plenty to draw!! These two were just to get rid of the frustration of not being able to stay for hours.

July 08, 2011

I got another chance to return to the museum today, Musée d'Orsay, this time. With my member card it's so easy to get in and it makes a short visit possible without loosing time waiting in the line.

So, another chance to try my sanguine Copic Multiliner out. I should have several of those in different sizes, because as I want to get darker zones it's not very nice when there are too many layers of fine lines, so I better go for a thicker nib. Otherwise it was a little complicated to get concentrated on drawing today, as I felt a little too exited since this morning... My daughter got a wonderful good news for her next years studies in the US, she's admitted where she applied to study what she wants! Who could ask for more at the age of 19? She will study art and photography in one of the best universities of the Unites States! At least as she's going to learn difficult stuff she'll be in good hands while doing so! The destiny and her strong will are going to have to do the rest. I just had to share this happy feeling I got inside!

July 06, 2011

A stop at Le Louvre this afternoon for a drawing and a exposition...
This drawing is done with a Copic Multiliner SP (0,3) and in sepia. At first a thought the sepia was a little light but, finally insisting a little with a new try today I found it much better and nicer. Otherwise its seems to be the perfect fine liner, refillable and you can change the nibs and their sizes. A dear friend sent it to me from spain and for now I haven't found a retailer here in France so I will have to continue searching...

July 05, 2011

The other day my sketchbook finally arrived to participate at the World Tour Sketchbook Project 2012! This is a first time project for me, I better get concentrated on what and how I should work through this sketchbook. I hope to be able to start soon, with lots of inspirations...

July 04, 2011

Yesterday a went to Gabrielle's picnic party, in the parc of "Buttes de Chaumont", to celebrate her birthday. It was a beautiful day and a lovely bunch of people. Most of us were in some way involved in drawing and some draw together in Tom's figure drawing sessions during the year. I hope Gabrielle was happy for her party. I had a very peaceful and good time myself. Concerning drawing I only did this sketch of Max, he is from japan, and this is from when he was drawing too. I hope he recognizes himself...

July 03, 2011

This saturday my new friend and artist, Tom, organized a "sketchcrawl" in his home village, Noisiel, 30 km east of Paris. We were about ten people and on the program was discovery of the surroundings of Noisiel while walking in the forest, stopping sketching, walking again, picnic, more walking along the river "la Marne" (the moment I had to go back to Paris) and more sketching. Those who stayed for the evening were supposed to go to an open air cinema later.

We had a very nice time together and the weather was the most perfect, we didn't draw much but getting together was lovely. Time flew and I think we should do more of these "rendez-vous"!

July 02, 2011

Here comes a watercolor sketch of my cactus I painted some time ago. There is nothing much about it but I kind of like the light and the contrasting shadows I got there... I could ad some needles that are missing but I prefer not to go back working on it, I don't think it would ad any interest in it. Well it is what it is; just a watercolor sketch.

"A day without drawing feels empty and several days drive me crazy!"

This is about sharing a painting and drawing process. Not an academic process, rather my way of working, searching and continuing learning.

I've met many interesting people and friends through this page the last seven years, and I have also got the pleasure to teach watercolor painting in Paris. I thank everyone for their precious support and interest in my work.

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My thoughts about drawing coincides with these statements :

"When a head, an apple, a tree or a piece of bread, beat and subjugate, the hand will follow and communicate through the line or spot, the visual emotion. It is always the revelation of a truth that the subtle viewer will discern without hesitation."

"Drawing from observation is immediate. It requires the feeling: intense sensation, vision, velocity and instant execution. It does not admit any subsequent amendments that we would be noticed inevitably... Whether it's an apple, a face or a tree it's always revelation of a truth that the subtle viewer will discern without hesitation."

Avigdor Arikha

"Always have a book in hand and note in four strokes the objects that strike you, if you do not have time to fully state it. But if you have the opportunity to make a more accurate sketch, study the model with love, consider it and express it under all its forms, so as it stays in your head, embed it there as your property."